Phytochemical combinations that regulate pathological immunity

Abstract

Disclosed are dietary supplements comprising a combination of a spice, a partially purified phytochemical, and a fully purified phytochemical that synergistically downregulates inflammation and promotes wellness, good health, and fitness in a mammal. Methods of identifying and making such supplements are likewise provided. The method of identifying comprises contacting mammalian cells, in vitro or in vivo, with the combination, assaying to detect a change in the level of a biomarker that is correlated with downregulation of an inflammatory response of the cells, and identifying a phytochemical composition comprising a combination of spices that synergistically changes the level of the biomarker. Exemplary supplements include a combination of spices selected from (a) turmeric and ginger, (b) turmeric and capsicum, and (c) paprika and nutmeg.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application relies on the disclosure of, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. provisional patent application No. 61 / 353,526, filed Jun. 10, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to the field of making and administering to a subject phytochemical formulations that downregulate pathological inflammation in a subject in need of such treatment. More specifically, the present invention relates to making and administering dietary supplements comprising phytochemical formulations containing two or more spices, fully or partially purified phytochemicals, or a combination of these, that synergistically downregulate pathological inflammation, to promote wellness, good health, and fitness, and to prevent or reduce undesirable effects of pathological inflammation, in a subject in need of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]The present invention provides methods and compositions that use phytochemical “blends” to synergistically downregulate, i.e., suppress or inhibit, pathological inflammation, which is involved in insult and injury, and is known to contribute to pathological syndromes and diseases in humans and other mammals. An object of the invention is to provide methods comprising orally administering to a human or other mammalian subject a physiologically or pharmacologically effective dose of such a synergistically acting phytochemical blend, to promote such things as wellness, good health, and fitness. The invention provides methods that comprise orally administering a physiologically or pharmacologically effective dose of a synergistically acting phytochemical blend to a human or other mammalian subject to alleviate or reduce harmful effects of pathological inflammation in a subject in need of such treatment. The invention also provides methods comprising orally administering a physiologically or pharmacologically effective dose of a synergistically acting phytochemical blend to a human or other mammalian subject to prevent harmful effects of pathological inflammation in a subject in need of such treatment. In the aforementioned methods of the invention, the synergistically-acting phytochemical blend can be a dietary supplement or seasoning comprising fully or partially purified phytochemicals, phytochemical-containing spices and / or herbs, or extracts thereof, or a combination of these, that synergistically downregulate inflammation in a mammal, which phytochemical blend can further be fortified with one or more fully or partially purified phytochemical(s) or drug(s) to increase potency and achieve efficacy.

[0078]It is also an object of the present invention to provide methods for promoting wellness, good health, and fitness, methods for reducing or alleviating undesirable effects of inflammation, and methods for preventing undesirable effects of inflammation in a mammalian subject, which methods comprise orally administering to the subject a medical food composition comprising a food containing at least one phytochemical and further comprising a phytochemical composition comprising at least one phytochemical constituent selected from the group consisting of a spice, a partially purified phytochemical, and a fully purified phytochemical, wherein the combination of phytochemical constituents in the medical food composition effectively and synergistically downregulates inflammation in the subject.

Problems solved by technology

Such proprietary small molecule drugs are typically costly, toxic, and not effectively used prophylactically.

Many phytochemicals widely distributed in human diet, particularly in common spices, have anti-inflammatory properties, but individually provide little or no therapeutic or prophylactic benefit.

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